As we face unprecedented times amidst a global pandemic, there are some recent revelations that will aid our future management of the virus. Respiratory distress, which is a common symptom of the coronavirus, seems to occur more often in patients who are overweight according to many health care professionals. Due to high rates of obesity around the world, it is expected that a high percentage of the population with the coronavirus will also have a higher BMI. 

According to worldobesity.org, obesity-related conditions seem to worsen the effects of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that people with heart disease and diabetes are at a higher risk of COVID-19 complications. The CDC now lists severe obesity as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 cases. Severe obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above.

A study reported in MedicalNewsToday of over 4,000 patients with COVID-19 in New York City found that severe obesity was a major risk factor for hospitalization, second only to the age of the individual.

ICU Admissions

Recent studies have shown that 70% of ICU admissions from COVID-19 are from patients who are deemed obese or overweight. Most of these patients have chronic medical conditions which are also underlying causes for poor outcomes in COVID-19 cases. Carrying excessive weight is already a strain on the human body because it is usually associated with less physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle, which is proven to be unhealthy long-term. 

Overweight coronavirus patients presented with higher plasma C-reactive protein levels and lower lymphocyte counts, according to medical researchers. Also, the median hospital stay was 23 days for overweight patients as opposed to 18 days for those with a normal weight.

An article in MedicalNewsToday said “In Seattle, a study of critically ill COVID-19 patients made similar findings. This analysis found that 85% of patients with obesity required mechanical ventilation, compared to 64% of patients without the condition. Moreover, 62% of the patients with obesity died of COVID-19, compared with 36% of those without obesity.”

Obesity in the context of COVID-19 has led to fewer positive outcomes for patients with the virus. This is not to say that all overweight patients with the coronavirus will not recover, although it makes it more difficult for them to recover. This is mostly due to the pre-existing conditions that coincide with that condition. 

Individuals who are overweight typically have the following medical conditions:

• Diabetes Mellitus
• Asthma
• Hypertension
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Fatty Liver Disease
• Certain cancers

All of the abovementioned conditions put patients in a higher risk category regardless of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Pre-Existing Conditions

Many patients who have suffered from adverse outcomes from the virus already have pre-existing kidney conditions. Many of whom needed kidney dialysis, putting a strain on those already requiring assistance. This was an unexpected consequence of the virus that many health care professionals didn’t anticipate during the height of the coronavirus spread in April and May. 

How To Stay Healthy

Patients should continue taking their medications and should not change their treatment plans without medical guidance. Higher risk patients should avoid health facilities if possible by having plenty of supplies at home and doing telehealth visits with their primary care physician. However, individuals should not delay medically necessary or emergency care because of the virus. Many hospitals and facilities have contingency plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while allowing for treatment.